Development of an evidence-led competency framework for primary care and community pharmacists

Recent reports and subsequent policy have emphasised the need for health care professionals to have relevant and up-to-date skills and expertise. In particular, the Kennedy Report in 2001 emphasised the need for regulation aimed at maintaining the competence of professionals and the importance of periodic performance appraisals, coupled with continuing professional development (CPD). These drivers, along with an increasingly well-informed and sceptical public, make clear the need for a strategy that will develop practitioners who are fit for purpose. In January 2005, CPD became a professional requirement for all practising pharmacists. CPD is expected to become mandatory by the end of 2005 so that pharmacists will be required to submit their CPD records to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society for review every three to five years in order to maintain their practising rights. A CPD record can demonstrate how learning from mistakes, appraisal, peer review, critical incidents, audit and other key activities feeds into the pharmacist’s learning. However, one of the major barriers to the successful implementation of CPD is the lack of a system to help pharmacists identify their learning needs, since many in primary care and community pharmacy work in isolation and are not subject to regular performance appraisal. Success in needs assessment is dependent on knowledge of the competencies required to undertake a job effectively. In addition, CPD is not a measure of competence, in that participation in the CPD process does not ensure that a person is able to carry out the tasks expected of them in their role. Aim To adapt and validate the general level competency framework to be relevant for primary care and community pharmacists. To compare the framework with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s “Competencies of the future pharmacy workforce” document.